China imposes South China Sea fishing ban

GUANGZHOU - China will soon impose a routine fishing ban in northern parts of the South China Sea, including the waters around Huangyan Island, authorities announced Monday.

The fishing ban will last from May 16 to August 1, covering areas north of the 12th parallel of north latitude, including Huangyan Island but excluding most of the Nansha Islands, according to a spokesman from the South China Fishery Administration Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture.

All fishing vessels should be moored and shelve their nets during the ban, the spokesman said. Violators may have their catches and boats confiscated, their fishing licences revoked and be fined up to 50,000 yuan ($7,936).

The spokesman said the fishing ban is also applicable to foreign ships.

"Fishing activity of foreign ships in the banned areas will be seen as a blatant encroachment on China's fishery resources," he said.

Foreign fishing boats have been caught breaking past fishing bans in the area. Despite continuous crackdown, the practice is far from being stamped out, he added.

Imposed annually since 1999, the ban is aimed at protecting fishery resources in the South China Sea. It has been imposed from May 16 to August 1 every year since 2009.

But this year, it comes at a time of escalating sovereignty dispute between China and the Philippines over Huangyan Island. Tensions started on April 10, when a Philippine warship harassed 12 Chinese fishing vessels that had sailed near the island to seek shelter from inclement weather.

China has repeatedly stated that Huangyan Island is an inherent part of its territory and that the surrounding waters are historic fishing areas for Chinese fishermen.

The fishery bureau spokesman said a patrol boat would be dispatched to the waters around the island on Tuesday for enforcing the ban.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei on Monday told a regular press conference that the fishing ban "is not related to the ongoing Huangyan Island incident."

"We are aware of the presence of Philippine boats in the area. These fishing boats should leave regardless of the fishing ban," said Tong Xiaoling, Chinese ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

"China has every right to defend its sovereignty and protect its fishery resources," Tong said.

Hong, the spokesman, also urged the Philippine side seriously respects China's territorial sovereignty and stop all moves that will expand and complicate the situation.